HOWTO: Query and Update Excel Data Using ADO From ASP

ID: Q195951

The information in this article applies to:
  • ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), versions 1.0, 1.5, 2.0
  • Active Server Pages

SUMMARY

This article demonstrates how to query and update information in an Excel spreadsheet using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) from an Active Server Page. The article also discusses the limitations associated with this type of application.

IMPORTANT: Though ASP/ADO applications support multi-user access, an Excel spreadsheet does not. Therefore, this method of querying and updating information does not support multi-user concurrent access.


MORE INFORMATION

To access the data in your Excel spreadsheet for this sample, use the Microsoft ODBC Driver for Excel. Create a table to access the data by creating a Named Range in your Excel spreadsheet.

Steps to Create Sample Application

  • Create the Excel file ADOtest.xls with the following data in sheet1:

    column1 column2 column3
    rr this 15
    bb test 20
    ee works 25


    • NOTE: If a column in your Excel spreadsheet contains both text and numbers, the Excel ODBC driver cannot correctly interpret which data type the column should be. Please make sure that all the cells in a column are of the same data type. The following three errors can occur if each cell in a column is not of the same type or you have the types mixed between "text" and "general":
    1. Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80040e21'
      The request properties can not be supported by this ODBC Driver.


    2. Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80004005'
      The query is not updateable because it contains no searchable columns to use as a hopeful key.


    3. Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80004005'
      Query based update failed. The row to update could not be found.


  • Create a Named Range, myRange1, in your spreadsheet:

    1. Highlight the row(s) and column(s) area where your data resides.


    2. On the Insert menu, point to Name, and click Define.


    3. Enter the name myRange1 for the Named Range name.


    4. Click OK.


    The Named Range myRange1 contains the following data:

    column1 column2 column3
    rr this 15
    bb test 20
    ee works 25


    NOTE: ADO assumes that the first row in an Excel query contains the column headings. Therefore, the Named Range must include the column headings. This is different behavior from DAO.

    NOTE: Column headings cannot be a number. The Excel driver cannot interpret them and, instead, returns a cell reference. For example, a column heading of "F1" would be misinterpreted.


  • Create an ODBC System Data Source Name (DSN) pointing to the ADOTest.xls file.

    1. From the Control Panel, open the ODBC Administrator.


    2. On the System DSN tab, click Add.


    3. Select Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls) and click Finish. If this option does not exist, you need to install the Microsoft ODBC driver for Excel from Excel setup.


    4. Choose ADOExcel for the Data Source Name.


    5. Make sure the Version is set to Excel 97.


    6. Click "Select Workbook...", browse to the ADOTest.xls file, and click OK.


    7. Click the "Options>>" button and clear the "Read Only" check box.


    8. Click OK and then click OK again.




  • Set permissions on the ADOTest.xls file.


If your Active Server Page is accessed anonymously, you need to make sure that the Anonymous Account (IUSR_<MachineName>) has at least Read/Write (RW) access to the spreadsheet. If you want to delete information from the spreadsheet, you need to grant the permissions accordingly.

If you are authenticating access to your Active Server Page, you need to ensure that all users accessing your application have the appropriate permissions.

NOTE: If you do not set the appropriate permissions on the spreadsheet, you get an error message similar to the following:

Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers error '80004005'

[Microsoft][ODBC Excel Driver] The Microsoft Jet database engine cannot open the file '(unknown)'. It is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data.


  1. Create a new ASP page and paste in the following code: 
    
      &lt;!-- Begin ASP Source Code --&gt;
      &lt;%@ LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" %&gt;
      &lt;%
        Set objConn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
        objConn.Open "ADOExcel"

        Set objRS = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
        objRS.ActiveConnection = objConn
        objRS.CursorType = 3                    'Static cursor.
        objRS.LockType = 2                      'Pessimistic Lock.
        objRS.Source = "Select * from myRange1"
        objRS.Open
   %&gt;
   &lt;br&gt;
   &lt;%
      Response.Write("Original Data")

      'Printing out original spreadsheet headings and values.

      'Note that the first recordset does not have a "value" property
      'just a "name" property.  This will spit out the column headings.

      Response.Write("&lt;TABLE&gt;&lt;TR&gt;")
      For X = 0 To objRS.Fields.Count - 1
         Response.Write("&lt;TD&gt;" &amp; objRS.Fields.Item(X).Name &amp; "&lt;/TD&gt;")
      Next
      Response.Write("&lt;/TR&gt;")
      objRS.MoveFirst

      While Not objRS.EOF
         Response.Write("&lt;TR&gt;")
         For X = 0 To objRS.Fields.Count - 1
            Response.write("&lt;TD&gt;" &amp; objRS.Fields.Item(X).Value)
         Next
         objRS.MoveNext
         Response.Write("&lt;/TR&gt;")
      Wend
      Response.Write("&lt;/TABLE&gt;")

      'The update is made here

      objRS.MoveFirst
      objRS.Fields(0).Value = "change"
      objRS.Fields(1).Value = "look"
      objRS.Fields(2).Value = "30"
      objRS.Update

      'Printing out spreadsheet headings and values after update.

      Response.Write("&lt;br&gt;Data after the update")
      Response.Write("&lt;TABLE&gt;&lt;TR&gt;")
      For X = 0 To objRS.Fields.Count - 1
         Response.Write("&lt;TD&gt;" &amp; objRS.Fields.Item(X).Name &amp; "&lt;/TD&gt;")
      Next
      Response.Write("&lt;/TR&gt;")
      objRS.MoveFirst

      While Not objRS.EOF
         Response.Write("&lt;TR&gt;")
         For X = 0 To objRS.Fields.Count - 1
            Response.write("&lt;TD&gt;" &amp; objRS.Fields.Item(X).Value)
         Next
         objRS.MoveNext
         Response.Write("&lt;/TR&gt;")
      Wend
      Response.Write("&lt;/TABLE&gt;")

      'ADO Object clean up.

      objRS.Close
      Set objRS = Nothing

      objConn.Close
      Set objConn = Nothing
   %&gt;
   &lt;!-- End ASP Source Code --&gt;


  2. Save and name your Active Server Page and view it in the browser. You will see the following: Original Data: column1 column2 column3 ----------------------------- rr this 30 bb test 20 tt wow 25 Data after the update: column1 column2 column3 ----------------------------- change look 30 bb test 20 tt wow 25


NOTE: An update was performed on the first row of your Named Range (after the headings).


REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q190195 HOWTO: ExtractInformation From Excel Sheet with DAO

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbADO kbASP kbGrpASP
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,1.5,2.0; winnt:
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: September 7, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.